Tool



April 5, 1938. J wRlGHT 2,112,873

TOOL

Filed Nov. 7, 1936 iNVENTOR BY JEHMZD i/[1y Z ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) My invention relates to new and useful improvements to a tool of the class comprising relative movable jaws, for gripping or operating upon an object located between them, and handles for 5 relatively actuating the jaws.

An important object of my invention is to pro vide a tool of the class referred to which will permit a wide movement of the jaws for a relatively smaller movement of the handles actuating the Jaws.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a tool that will permit heavy pressure to be exerted upon an object, held between its jaws, by means of the lever action of the handles.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the follow ing description:

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, the figure is a side View of a tool embodying my invention.

In the drawing, where for the purpose of illus tration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numbers I and 2 represent movable jaws containing opposed gripping edges 3 and 25 l. The edges 3 and 4 may be shaped to any desired form to suit the use to which the tool will be put; for instance, they may be serrated, or they may be squared, or they may be any other shape. The jaw I forms the outer end of a lever 5 which is made integral with a ratchet or curved toothed sector 6 and has a handle I at its opposite end. The jaw 2 forms the outer end of a lever 8 which is attached to the lever 5 with a pivot 9. The lever 8 is slotted to receive the ratchet or toothed sector 6. A leaf spring I is attached to the lever by a screw II and functions to keep the levers 5 and 8 separated. A handle I2 is attached to the lever 8 by a pivot I3 and has a pawl It attached to its inner end at a pivot I5. The pawl I4 is held against a stop I 6 by a leaf spring H. A coil spring I8 is interposed between the lever 8 and the handle I2.

The operation of the tool is as follows: The object to be gripped is inserted between the jaws I and 2 and the handles 1 and I2 are moved towards each other by applying external force. As the spring I0 is weaker than the spring I8 this force applied to the handles 1 and I2 will cause the lever B to swing about the pivot 9 and result in the jaws I and 2 approaching each other. When the edges 3 and 4 of the jaws I and 2 take up against the object to be gripped, the movement about the pivot 9 will cease and the handle I2 will swing about the pivot I3. The resultant motion imparted to the end I2 of the handle I 2 will permit the force of the spring I! to act upon the pawl I4 and to cause the pawl I4 to pass the stop i6 and into engagement with the teeth on the ratchet or sector 6. Further movement of the handle I2 will give a lever movement to the lever 8 with the pawl M as a center.

In order to free the grasped object from be- 5 tween the jaws I and 2, the pressure upon the handle I2 is relieved. This permits the spring I8 to act upon the handle I2 forcing it to swing about the pivot it away from the lever 8 and causes the end carrying the pawl I4 to withdraw the pawl from engagement with the ratchet or toothed sector 6; and on disengagement of the pawl, permits the spring It to act upon the lever 8 thereby forcing it to swing about the pivot 9 and away from the lever 5.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and the various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subject claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. A tool comprising two branches constituting jaws at one end and pivoted at the other end, a spring means for separating the two branches, a curved toothed sector so carried by one of the branches as to fit into a slotted portion of the other branch, a handle pivoted to the other branch and carrying an extension beyond the pivot, a spring actuated pawl pivoted on said extension and arranged so that the pawl may be caused to engage the teeth of the curved toothed sector, and a pawl stop for preventing such engagement when it is not desired, and a. spring means for separating this handle from the branch to which it is pivoted.

2. A tool comprising two branches constituting jaws at one end and pivoted at the other end, a spring means for separating the two branches, a curved toothed sector so carried by one of the branches as to fit into a slotted portion of the other branch, a handle pivoted to the other branch and carrying an extension beyond the pivot, a spring actuated means pivoted on said extension and arranged so that it may be brought into engagement with the teeth of the curved toothed sector, and a stop for preventing such engagement when it is not desired, and a spring means for separating this handle from the branch to 55 which it is pivoted.

J ERAUID WRIGHT. 

